Immigrating To the USA with a dog

[mari04 100]

15 hours ago, Paul&Anna said:

Unfortunately this isn’t the case now. After July this year USA banned all dogs from Ukraine. The permit to application process now takes over four and a half months and I don’t believe she qualifies. I called the CDC and NVC to verify. Says she needs to be a US citizen which she isn’t or a lawful resident with a USCIS number or Visa number to prove this. As far as I know she does receive these numbers until after she moves here. Secondly after providing she is one of these two the only exceptions to bringing a dog here even if you are a US citizen or lawful permanent resident is for relocating for work, school, military orders, or a service dog. And this information has to be mailed in with the application. The titers we just submitted in Ukraine will not be available until after November 31st. Then the application that is seems she doesn’t qualify for takes another six weeks. So now 4.5 months and her visa is only good for 6 months. With Covid-19 who knows what else. I don’t think it’s worth waiting until January or February of 2022 when her visa interview is in a few weeks. Especially if she doesn’t qualify for any of this. 

You are US citizen. They can right you in as a pet owner. The rest I am not sure. 

[Chancy 6,241]

8 hours ago, mari04 said:

You are US citizen. They can right you in as a pet owner.

 

As mentioned before, the rules for importing dogs changed starting July 2021.  The changes apply whether the pet owner is a US citizen or not.  What matters is whether the pet came from a country with high risk of dog rabies.  Ukraine is in the list of those countries.  Here again is the official CDC source -- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dog-origin.html

 

[HRQX 4,145]

12 minutes ago, Chancy said:

As mentioned before, the rules for importing dogs changed starting July 2021.  The changes apply whether the pet owner is a US citizen or not.

I believe mari04 was commenting on the permit process being ambiguous when the owner is entering with an Immigrant Visa, thus should also list the US spouse as an "owner" https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/apply-dog-import-permit.html

Who Can Apply:

The following categories of importers are eligible to request a permit to import a dog into the United States:

• US government employees traveling on official orders.
• US citizens or lawful US residents relocating to the United States, such as for employment or education.
• Owners with service dogs that are trained to assist them with a disability.
  In accordance with US Department of Transportation regulations at 14 CFR part 382, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, and service animals in training are not considered service animals.
  • Must submit a completed US Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form.
• Return travelers (US citizens or lawful residents) who left the United States before July 14, 2021and are returning before October 14, 2021. Dogs must have:
  • Valid rabies vaccination certificate issued in the United States; and
  • USDA Export Health Certificate from the United States issued July 14, 2020–July 14, 2021; and
  • Documentation that they traveled out of the United States with their owner before July 14 (for example, official airline documentation showing the animal traveled with you).
• Importers wishing to import dogs for science, education, or exhibition, as these terms are defined in 42 CFR 71.50, or for bona fide law enforcement.

 

A completed application includes:

...

• Photo of identification page of the importer’s US passport or Lawful Residence card

Edited September 3, 2021 by HRQX

[Chancy 6,241]

2 minutes ago, HRQX said:

OP should also list the US spouse as an "owner"

 

I agree.  It's more clear-cut on the CDC page that US citizens may request for an import permit.

 

[Paul&Anna 26]

1 hour ago, Chancy said:

 

I agree.  It's more clear-cut on the CDC page that US citizens may request for an import permit.

 

Attach one of the following:

a. DOT service animal form; OR

b. Official government travel orders; OR

c. Employment or university acceptance letter; OR

d. Proof of travel with pet out of US before July 14,2021 (USDA health certificate and airline documentation)

 

one of these is required of either her or myself to get approved. I don’t have any of these reasons to re locate. Neither does she. This is straight from the online form. My question is will she be a lawful resident after her visa interview? Or after she enters the US? That was the first question they ask for a lawful resident or US Citizen. Because waiting for this process puts her very close to waiting for an answer and her cr1 hitting 6 months then expiring. It feels crazy for her to sit there and wait if we won’t be approved. Then one hiccup and she doesn’t enter within 6 months just to find out neither her or I qualify at the moment due to the new ban. Medical is next week. So it expires March. The process for the dog if everything goes smooth is the Titers will be ready. December 1st. Then she has to receive. Print. Gather all evidence. Fill out online form with all attachments. So maybe by December 8th. Then a six week wait puts us at January 19th. This is if all goes as planned and nothing else happens. Requested. COVID-19 etc. she could move here so soon vs wait for this application that as I read I am unsure she qualifies to fill it out. I already called the CDC and they said I do not. The person I spoke with just didn’t know if she is a legal resident after the interview then also she doesn’t have one of the above documents 

Edited September 3, 2021 by Paul&Anna

[Chancy 6,241]

1 minute ago, Paul&Anna said:

My question is will she be a lawful resident after her visa interview? Or after she enters the US?

 

Your wife will be a lawful permanent resident as soon as CBP stamps her CR1 visa on her entry to the US.

 

[Paul&Anna 26]

4 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Your wife will be a lawful permanent resident as soon as CBP stamps her CR1 visa on her entry to the US.

 

Ok I added more info to my above response. Now I am sure if this is the case neither her or I can apply. Best I think is her to apply after she is here. Not risk our CR1. If they say no then when the Ban expires I will just fly over and bring the dog back myself. 

[Chancy 6,241]

34 minutes ago, Paul&Anna said:

Now I am sure if this is the case neither her or I can apply. Best I think is her to apply after she is here. Not risk our CR1.

 

While I agree that your wife should not wait too long before traveling on her CR1 visa, I still recommend that she try for an import permit before her travel.  The application form has a field for US visa number, indicating that visa holders could apply.  For the supporting document on item #39, I suggest submitting a letter explaining that she and her dog are traveling for the purpose of immigrating to the US.  Include a photo of her CR1 visa with the letter.

 

[Paul&Anna 26]

5 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

While I agree that your wife should not wait too long before traveling on her CR1 visa, I still recommend that she try for an import permit before her travel.  The application form has a field for US visa number, indicating that visa holders could apply.  For the supporting document on item #39, I suggest submitting a letter explaining that she and her dog are traveling for the purpose of immigrating to the US.  Include a photo of her CR1 visa with the letter.

 

Part of me thought the same but then she has to wait until after December 1st to apply then wait six weeks for an answer. Which puts us into end of January for a possible answer. This is the timeline they said without any issues. Longer if so. I guess I’ll just leave it up to her. I just think that is a long time to wait before moving here for something unknown. The site even says on a very rare occasion they approve. To add to this she is selling her home there and will have to rent while waiting. Has two kids she is bringing and their father could stop the agreement. I worry there is so much at risk. For instance he stopped the agreement once and we are waiting for his new one that she needs prior to medical and interview. In just one week. I’m just worried about waiting over 4.5 months for something that is so unsure vs traveling back to get the dog later and starting our life sooner before anything stops us. 

[Chancy 6,241]

17 minutes ago, Paul&Anna said:

I’m just worried about waiting over 4.5 months for something that is so unsure vs traveling back to get the dog later and starting our life sooner before anything stops us. 

 

Given those circumstances, I agree with you that it's not worth the wait when there's so much risk in delaying travel.  Still, kudos to you for sharing the decision-making with your wife 👍 (Maybe I'm becoming jaded from reading too many posts on VJ of some USCs treating their spouses less like partners and more like mail-order packages 😄)

 

[mari04 100]

20 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

As mentioned before, the rules for importing dogs changed starting July 2021.  The changes apply whether the pet owner is a US citizen or not.  What matters is whether the pet came from a country with high risk of dog rabies.  Ukraine is in the list of those countries.  Here again is the official CDC source -- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dog-origin.html

 

Before responding you really need to read the post carefully. 

[Chancy 6,241]

2 hours ago, mari04 said:

Before responding you really need to read the post carefully. 

 

I did.  But your post with a spelling mistake was confusing.

 

[amh123 2]

Curious to hear if the final outcome with bringing the dog over?

I'm in the same situation with my fiance wanitng to bring her dog over but classified as high risk rabies country.